Ancient rock art in Utah vandalized

The many petroglyph panels of the Land Hill site reflect the stories and beliefs of the Native Americans who inhabited the area along the Santa Clara River as long as 5,000 years ago. Preservation of this and other archaeological sites gives future generations a glimpse of cultures that thrived in the past.

A few months ago, archaeologist William Banek and law enforcement officer Scott Lowrey of the St. George Field Office began noticing increased instances of scratched graffiti near these ancient petroglyphs.

“This is probably the work of juveniles who don’t understand the value and significance of these resources,” said Banek, who will be stepping up education outreach to local schools and youth organizations to address this issue.